World Music Day: How are you celebrating?

Happy World Music Day

Saturday 21 June is World Music Day, also known as Make Music Day or simply Music Day, a day to celebrate what we love about music.

It's also a good opportunity for people to learn about and try out all things musical.

Read on to find out more about the day and let us know in the comments if you are doing anything musical to celebrate.

What is World Music Day and how is it celebrated?

World Music Day is also known as Make Music Day and Fête de la Musique (the festival or celebration of music) is a day to celebrate and promote all types of music.

It is celebrated in different ways but mainly through music performances which are free for the public to enjoy.

Lots of schools take part in the celebrations with special lessons.

How did World Music Day start?

Fête de la Musique in the 1980s bought musicians into the streets

World Music Day or Make Music Day started in France.

The Ministry of Culture there wanted a way to get people who played instruments out on the streets.

Fête de la Musique, which means Festival of Music, was launched in 1982.

The main purpose is to promote music and all concerts should be free.

Since then the day has spread all around the world and is celebrated in around 125 countries.

What is happening in the UK and around the world?

As well as bigger events people can organise their own local events

In the UK, events are organised under Make Music Day.

In 2022, a total of 12,800 musicians of all abilities performed in front of 76,200 people in live and online performances across the UK.

For 2025, lots of performances by choirs and musicians are planned all around the UK.

Schools are also taking part with some organising their own events.

In France a concert takes place every year in the main courtyard of the residence of the President

For a special Make Music Day global experience, singers from around the world are uniting.

At venues in Canada, Germany, Ghana, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Turkiye, the UK and the US members of the public will gather to learn a popular song in multi-part harmony.

After the rehearsal a live broadcast will be streamed and each choir will have a chance to perform their song and watch the others.

Each song is on the theme 'Taking Flight'.

In France where the celebration started, the President's residence Élysée Palace will once again hold a concert in its main courtyard.

How are you celebrating World Music Day?

Do you play an instrument?

We want to know if you're celebrating Make Music Day.

From writing, listening or performing there are lots of different ways to celebrate World Music Day, and we want to know what you're doing.

Perhaps you are having a school concert? Maybe you'll be picking up an instrument? Or perhaps you are planning to listen to all your favourite music?

Let us know in the comments if you have anything planned for Make Music Day.